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Is It Safe to Steam Clean Laminate Flooring?

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Phyllis asked: Can I use a floor steam cleaner on laminate flooring?

Steam Cleaning

Steam provides chemical-free cleaning power that effectively cuts through dirt and grime that builds up on many floors. It has become increasingly popular as we all begin trying to be more “green” with our cleaning methods. Before using this method on your own flooring though, it’s important to understand the difference between a steam cleaner and a steam mop. Though some may interchange the terms, they mean two different products and two very different results to laminate flooring.

How Steam Cleaners Work

Steam cleaners are designed for cleaning carpets. These machines spray the floor with water and suction it back up as brushes spin to “scrub” the floor. Technically, these machines can be used on both hard and carpeted flooring. Though the water is removed quickly, these machines present too much moisture for laminates and should NOT be used. The typical drying time with a steam cleaner is 2-6 hours.

The second type of steam cleaner is a steam mop. These mops consist of a plastic head that is covered with a terry cloth pad. Steam is produced and applied to the floor through the pad, usually by a trigger on the handle. It leaves a minimal amount of moisture to the flooring, most of which is quickly absorbed by the pads. The dirt is picked up by the pad as well as it moves across the surface. Due to the small amount of water presented on the floor, they are dry within minutes.

When choosing a cleaner for your laminate flooring, pay careful attention to the amount of moisture that is being introduced to the surface. If water gets under the edges of the laminate, it can cause the surface to come loose. It can curl, crackle and ultimately, lose its smooth, wood-like finish. Though most steam mops are safe to use on laminate floors, it is best to always test a small area first to ensure there are no unwanted effects. When floors are sealed and installed properly, these mops can be valuable cleaning tools for quick and quality cleanings.

I’ve used laminate flooring for years and years. To get long life from your floor, avoid liquids; it will ruin the floor eventually. I recommend vacuuming the floor regularly and only clean the laminate if really necessary.

I have been using a Shark steam mop on my laminate floors. It leaves streaks and you can see footprints after the floor is dry. It looks awful. I don’t care how many times I go over it, the streaks are still there. Is the steam ruining the finish on the floor?

Michelle,
If the footprints are there before the cleaning and the same footprints remain after the cleaning, that means that the steam mop has not cleaned the floor. Footprints are caused by the oils on our feet. Although heat works well for cutting through oil in general, sometimes it’s just not enough. Try cleaning the floor with a vinegar/water mix or with a commercial laminate floor cleaner as described in our guide How to Clean Laminate Flooring. Even though steam mopping is great for regular cleaning, sometimes you just need something stronger.
To answer your question about whether heat can damage the finish, yes, it is possible, but it is unlikely that would happen with a steam mop and it does not sound like that is what’s happening here (streaks). When steam mopping, you move the mop over the floor surface fairly quickly, so the heat is very brief. If you were to hold the mop in one place and steam that one spot for an extended period of time, then that would likely damage the finish. Heat damage to wood appears as a white mark in the location of the heat. Streaks are usually an accumulation of dirt/grime being spread around on a surface. You can learn more about heat marks on wood and see an example in the guide How to Remove White Rings from Wooden Furniture.
Again though, since you mentioned that you go over the same area multiple times trying to get it clean, it is possible that the streaks are caused by heat. So if the floor does not come out clean with a traditional (vinegar or cleaner) cleaning, you can try the methods in the heat article to see if they work for removing the streaks.
Something else you can consider is using distilled water in your steam mop. If you have hard water, the streaks could be caused by that.

My laminate floor is the worst floor to clean. Everything I’ve used has caused this floor to streak and look cloudy. Also, when I walk barefoot it leaves footprints (they disappear though, most of the time), but it’s really becoming a problem as far as cleaning this floor; it’s always streaking and looks cloudy no matter what I do! Does anyone have any help for me, please?? Thank you very much.